Our Lord is Merciful and Just

by Fr. Don Kline, V.F.  |  03/23/2025  |  Letter from the Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, Our Lord offers us the parable of the fig tree. This is a challenging but straightforward parable from Our Lord. If a tree produces fruit, it lives! If it doesn’t produce fruit, it dies! When the gardener was told to cut down the fig tree that was not producing fruit, the man replies: “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down” (Luke 13:9).

We are like that tree in the garden that is called by God to produce fruit. Every person God creates receives countless blessings from Our Lord. Our Lord also provides plenty of opportunities to receive the necessary grace to share these blessing with others. God waits patiently for this fruit to appear; He does not want the death of the sinner; He wants him to be converted and to live as we hear from the prophet Ezekiel. St. Peter also teaches us that God is patient with us because Our Lord does not desire that any one of His children should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

It can be tempting to presume God’s mercy and to just live our lives in selfish ways. All of us have ignored our responsibilities at one time or another. We are all guilty of being lazy or desiring to take the easy way. With God’s grace, a person can come to see that their selfish choices can lead to a fruitless life. Of course, God is merciful and His mercy endures forever, but this parable reminds us that there are consequences for those who fail to respond to His grace and produce no fruit. Our Lord’s words are meant to encourage us and remind us that we have been given so much by God. What do we offer in return? Our Lord also reminds each of us: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).

Our Lord is once again inviting each of us to share our gifts, our time, our treasure, and our talents with others. Recognize that every good and worthwhile gift comes from God and because God has given you everything, you are called by God to give generously to others without counting the cost. God will never be outdone in generosity. I understand. There is never enough time to do everything. That is why we must use the time that we have to do what is most important. So ask God today to show you what really matters. Turn to God today and ask for His help.

Only slightly related… I encourage you to keep Sunday holy and spend it with your family if you are able. Try to make every Sunday relaxing because it is Our Lord's Day. Fun fact: Sundays of Lent are not counted in the total forty days of this holy season, so you are not expected to continue your penances and fasting on Our Lord’s Day. Maybe you could reread the Gospel together and discuss it as a family. Maybe you could play a board game, go for a walk, fly a kite and cook a nice meal together. Spending quality time together honors God and Our Lord’s Day.

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline
Pastor